Mary Shelley’s

Allusions, History, and Science

Introducing Themes

Chapter Summaries

Letters 1-4 and Chapters 1 & 2

Dopplegangers

Mary Shelley’s

Chapter SummariesLetters 1-4 and Chapters 1 & 2

Chapter 1

•History of Frankenstein’s family / relationship/friendship of mother and father

•Adoption of Elizabeth and plan for her and Victor to marry

•Early interests in science

Chapter 2

•Friendship between Victor, Elizabeth and Henry Cerval

•First interested in alchemy and out-dated sciences

•Inspiration for natural sciences comes during lightning storm

Mary Shelley’s

Allusions, History and Science

Letters 1-4 and Chapters 1 & 2

ALLUSION:Making reference to another text, person,

literature, art, etc.

He prayeth best, who loveth best

All things both great and small; For the dear God who loveth us, He made

and loveth all.

PROMETHEUS: (Greek Mythology)-Sought knowledge and stole fire from Gods-Gave fire to man; man caused destruction-Punished my being chained to rock and having liver removed from body every day by an eagle

EMOTIONS-Walton’s emotions in letters-Victor’s emotions upon rescue-Happiness and warmth of Victor’s childhoodWHY DO AUTHORS USE

ALLUSIONS?

Mary Shelley’s

Allusions, History and Science

Letters 1-4 and Chapters 1 & 2

ROLES OF WOMEN

CONSIDER…-Loving mother-Innocent and beautiful child-Lover-Women need care and protection of men

WEIRD RELATIONSHIPS

-Frankenstein’s father married girl he was taking care of, despite age difference-Elizabeth “given” to Frankenstein as “a beautiful present”. Mother later states “my firmest hopes of future happiness were placed on the prospect of your union."

Mary Shelley’s

Allusions, History and Science

Letters 1-4 and Chapters 1 & 2

STUDY OF SCIENCES

FRANKENSTEIN: “It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to

learn; and whether it was the outward substance of things, or the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupied me, still my inquiries were

directed to the metaphysical, or, in its highest sense, the physical secrets of the world.” (Chapter 2)

METAPHYSICAL

Studying the nature of being and the

connections within the world. Philosophy

PHYSICAL

Studying how things work, like chemistry,

geology, biology. True Science

Allusions to outdated beliefs of Cornelius Agrippa (divine connected to natural world) and new understandings of

galvanism and electricity

Mary Shelley’s

Introducing ThemesLetters 1-4 and Chapters 1 & 2

Mary Shelley’s

DopplegangersLetters 1-4 and Chapters 1 & 2

Robert Walton Victor Frankenstein

Situation

Goals

Attitude

Personal Qualities

Other

A twin, dark

double or “shadow

self”.

(i.e. “The Strange Case of

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”